DIY: Wiring after-market lights

Well, if the relay has a lower amp rating that the fuse you might burn out/melt the relay before the fuse blows, but other that I don't see a problem.

 

Is this what you used to connect the wires to one....

 

Thanks- its great info that I will use soon.
Mike

 

Thanks for the installation instructions. It helped me a lot. I installed a set of Hella 500's and a Smittybilt bull bar on a 08 Tacoma and it only took me 3 days. Me being 68 and in 30 degree weather, that wasn't to bad. Great instructions, DonL

 

Thanks DonL! I appreciate the feedback. Glad it worked for you.

 

Great instructions rhoppas. I have a couple questions: Can I run two switches (one for driving and one for fogs) on the same fuse tap power source? Theoretically as long as they are not both in use at the same time it shouldnt matter right? or would turning one switch on make the other switch off?

Thanks
Erik

 

Subbed. Thanks for great info. Doing this on monday!! Woot for no school!

 

I see no reason why you couldn't operate both switches from the one tap. Relays use very very little power. The switches should not interfere with one another.

 

I have a question: does your switch with the light on heat up at all and secondly has it ever burnt out (the light?) because thats what i want to do but 1. i need a quility switch and 2. it better work i don't wanna be in there twice and 3 its not as easy for me to install it where you did because i have all kinds of buttons that are there i have NO blank tabs there... instead i have that damn traction control and vscm or something or other that i have to push for three seconds (while stopped) to turn that off so i can GO DRIFTING >which is always< SECOND Question: because I have a 2009 where would you recommend mounting that switch?

 

My lighted switch does not heat up, and the light has never burned out. There is very little power going through the switch. That is the beauty of using a relay. If you do some searching there have been multiple discussions about switch placement.

 

for those of you that ran add-a-fuses from the fuse box to the on/off switch...which fuse slot did you use...upper left?

can I use one of the other two blanks? both read 14.2 with the truck on...is that ok?

my truck 04 prerunner

thnks

 

So I mounted the switches (which came with the PIAA lamps I purchased they have 3m tape and are pretty slick even though they are not flush)
The one for the fogs is beside the switches on the left of the steering wheel. The one for the beams I snaked under the dash and center console and up the side of the shifter, with the switch just under where my pinky finger rests on the stick shift. It is really comfortable and easy to hit to light up even mid shift and is easy to switch off as I usually drive with my hand on the shifter. The answer to my question about the same power source for both switches is yes you can as I have done exactly as shown in the instructions only I taped power for both lighted switches.

I will take pics if anyone wants to see the set up.

Cheers
Erik

 

I mounted and wired up 4 hella 700s just as the tutorial stated but got nothing. I can't even get my swiches to light up. Any suggestions on what to look for?

 

when I wired up my lights I first had a bad relay, then I had a bad ground, and then I had mis-wired the switch. Switches I used came from autozone, but appeared to be mismarked on the instructions. maybe look into those, the mis-wired switch is what was popping my fuses. i used the add-a-fuses from the fuse box.

Luckily I have a friend that's good at wiring and troubleshooting.

hope this helps

 

OK, After adding some backup lights with a switch, I got a question. What style of add-a-fuse do you guys use that will work?

I got I think HHH, and I dont believe they'll work, but some of the others are too big to work..

EDIT: I got it to work, I just wasn't being aggressive enough last night.

 

I read this and it sounds like me doing work on my vehicles ,i'm not a pro like you guys but what i read helps and teaches me more ,so this brings me to my question i have off road lights on my 2007 toyota tacoma dbl cab prerunner sr5 that is the model i have so i would like to know if i could swap out the 55 watt bulbs in the after market lights for 130 watt bulbs using theses intructions you have provided i have asked pro's literally and it's like they have not got brain cell one working is what i want to do possible with aftermarket or do i have to do something different than what you have here.......really would appreciate some input it's dark driving here in germany and they have no lights but plenty of animals on the road.please help.......thanks much

 

subscribed! nice job!

 

Thanks for the instructions - Awesome -. I'm gonna be installing 4 Hella 500 and each set of lights came with it's own wiring kit. Can I use 1 switch for all 4 lights, or do I need a seperate switch for each set of lights. Thanks in advance.

 

Without knowing to much about this stuff, I would assume that:
you could upgrade to a higher wattage bulb, as long as you upgraded your wiring/fuses/relays/switches/etc appropriately.
Whether or not your current light cases could handle the extra heat the 130W bulbs would generate might be another issue.

 

Why do it say in your diagram that you used two inline fuses but you only used one? And why only a 1 or 2 amp fuse in the add a circuit why not use a fuse what the wattage calls for? Bare with me i'm new at this! lol